EP0090430B1

EP0090430B1 - Compound speaker system

Info

Publication number: EP0090430B1
Application number: EP83103204A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Manabu Kawachi
Original assignee: Pioneer Electronic Corp
Current assignee: Pioneer Corp
Priority date: 1982-03-31
Filing date: 1983-03-30
Publication date: 1989-09-20
Also published as: EP0090430A2; US4811406A; EP0090430A3; DE3380619D1

Description

The present invention relates to a compound speaker system particularly suited for use in an automobile where it is mounted on the rear seat package tray or in a door panel.
A speaker system which includes the features set forth in the first part of each of claims 1 and 3 is known from US-A-4.,182,429. There, a tweeter is rotatably mounted within the cone of a woofer in such a manner that it may be positioned to have its sound producing direction extending at an angle to that of the woofer. Means are provided to lock the tweeter in its respective position relative to the woofer.
FR-A-2,465,385 discloses another compound speaker system in which a high-pitched sound reproducing means, which may include a tweeter and a squawker, is rotatably mounted on a woofer.

Summary of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a compound speaker system with an improved mechanism for adjusting and locking the position of the high-pitched sound reproducing means with respect to the low-pitched sound reproducing means.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the compound speaker system of the present invention in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the speaker system of Fig. 1 with a grille removed from the main body thereof;
Fig. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views taken along lines III-III and IV-IV of the Fig. 2;
Fig. 5 is a schematic cross sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 6 is a plan view of a grille, which form part of the embodiment of Fig. 5 and an upper portion of which is partially omitted for an illustrative purpose;
Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the grille viewed from line VII-VII of Fig. 6;
Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of Fig. 6;
Fig. 9A is a partially fragmental front view of a support member used in the embodiment of Fig. 5;
Fig. 9B is a side view of the same support member;
Figs.10 through 12 are exploded perspective views of important portions of the embodiment of Fig. 5; and
Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the general structure of the embodiment of Fig. 5.

Detailed Description of the Embodiments

One preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in conjunction with the attached drawings.
In the drawings, the woofer of this invention includes the following conventional elements; a pole piece 1a, a magnet 1a₂, a plate 1a3, the cone frame 1b, the parabolic cone 1c, the bobbin 1d, the voice coil 1e, and the damper 1f.
On top of the pole piece 1a_i, forming part of magnetic circuit 1a, is disposed a base 2 of synthetic resin that is fixed in position by a screw 3 inserted from the bottom of the pole piece. On the base 2 is located a support arm 4 of largely U-shape (Fig. 4) that is secured in place by a nut 5 at the uppermost end of the screw 3. The nut 5 has a hole 5a bored in the upper surface thereof. A squawker 7, a tweeter 8, and a super tweeter 9 smaller than the woofer are secured on a mounting plate 6 to face in the same direction as the woofer. The arrangement is that the squawker 7 is interposed between the tweeter 8 and the super tweeter 9. The super tweeter 9 is positioned farther than the tweeter 8 from a plane in which an upper rim of the woofer extends while the squawker 7 is positioned on said axis. In other words, the squawker 7 is offset from both of them, as may be seen by the imaginary line L1 connecting the centers of the tweeter 8 and super tweeter 9 in Fig. 2, such that, when the mounting plate 6 is rotated into a raised position, they will be elevated higher than squawker 7 outside above said plane. The squawker 7 has fixed members 10 having a stopper 10a of synthetic resin at diametrically opposite points on the squawker cone frame 7a. The fixer members are pivotably secured to the upper ends of the support arm 4 by means of screws 11 such that the squawker 7 take various positions. This pivotal securing defines an axis of rotation of the squawker. The squawker 7 is located between the support arm 4 in such a manner that the line L1 connecting the centers of the tweeter 8 and super tweeter 9 and the line L2 connecting the upper ends of the support arm 4 would not be parallel and would intersect with a certain angle. Sinc6 the support arm 4 supports the cone frame of the squawker 7 by holding the upper portion thereof, the mounting plate 6 will not project excessively above the upper rim of the woofer 1. In this situation, in order to prevent the tweeter 8 or the super tweeter 9 from coming into contact with the cone 1c of the woofer 1, the parabolic shape is selected for the cone 1 c of this particular embodiment. The numeral 12 indicates an arched lock plate that is fixedly mounted beneath the magnetic circuit 7b of the squawker 7. This arched lock plate has a number of equally spaced recesses 12a bored in the periphery thereof. The nut 5 has a spring 13 and a ball 14 in its hole 5a. It is so designed that the spring 13 pushes the ball 14 into one of the recesses 12a in the arched lock plate 12.
The numeral 15 indicates a second damper that is attached between the base 2 and the bottom of the cone 1c.
The numeral 16 designates a grille, which comprises a ring 16a for fitting over the peripheral portion 1 b, of the woofer frame 1 b, and a metal net cover 16b fixedly fitted over the ring 16a. The metal net cover 16b has a bulged portion laterally extending so as to avoid interference with the rotating speakers 7 through 9, when the mounting plate 6 is actuated.
Operation of the present invention of which the construction has been stated above will now be described. When the speaker system is in the non- operated position where the mounting plate 6 as well as all the speakers 7 through 9 are positioned on a horizontal plane, as shown in solid line in the drawings, the stoppers 10a of the fixer member 10 are held against the support arm 4. Also, the ball 14 is held within the middle recess 12a in the lock plate 12, which holds the lock plate in a fixed position.
This speaker system may preferably be installed in a rear seat package tray in the automobile with the cone 1c of the woofer facing upword where the line L1 connecting the tweeter 8 and the super tweeter 9 would be parallel to the seats. When the mounting plate 6 is rotated to face the driver's seat, the system holds the respective speakers 7 to 9 with their cones oriented in the driver's direction. When the mounting plate is being rotated, the lock plate 12 allows the ball 14 to move out from its original recess 12a and skip over the other recesses so long as the mounting plate 6 is moved. When the hand is removed after setting the mounting plate in the required position, the ball 14 will locate itself in the corresponding recess 12a to lock the lock plate 12 again and hence the mounting plate.
When the mounting plate 6 is in the raised position indicated in broken line in Fig. 3 where the ball 14 is engaged in the farthest recess of the lock plate, the squawker 7 keeps its magnetic circuit 7b in contact with the nut 5. Since the nut 5 is magnetized through the screw 3, the engagement between the ball 14 and recess 12a in this position is further assured magnetically without becoming loose due to vehicle vibrations. This double assurance of fixation would be still more effective as the speaker system of this invention will be heard mostly in this most tilted position.
Further, when the speakers 7 through 9 are placed in the raised position, the speaker system holds the tweeter 8 and super tweeter 9 at a higher level than the squawker 7. Consequently, the highly directional high frequency sound reaches the driver's seat from somewhat elevated points in the compartment. In addition, in the raised position, the super tweeter 9 is situated relatively higher than the tweeter 8 in the speaker system because of the design that the line L1 connecting the centers of the tweeter 8 to the super tweeter 9 runs at a certain angle with the line L2 through the axis of rotation of the mounting plate. This arrangement permits super-high frequency sound to propagate from a higher point than the sounds from the tweeter 8. Therefore, substantially all of the sound ranges reach directly the driver without being blocked by possible obstructions within the automobile compartment such as a backrest pillow.
In the embodiment described above, the mounting plate 6 is attached to the support arm 4 through the fixer members 10 that hold the squawker 7 in position. However, the mounting plate 6 may be provided with tabs on the backside for direct attachment to the support arm 4.
Furthermore, although this particular embodiment describes the speaker system as installed in the rear seat package tray, it may, of course, be imbedded in the door panel.
Another embodiment of the present invention will be further described in conjunction with Figs. 5 through 13.
Fig. 5 is a schematic cross sectional view of a compound speaker system equipped with the angle adjustment mechanism of the present invention. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of such speaker system.
The grille 16' is provided for attachment in front of the woofer 1' and comprises a side frame portion 16a' that is sized large enough to enclose the cone 1c' of the woofer 1', and a grille or an upper net cover 16b', which may be made of punched metal or any other suitable material, that is defined by the side frame portion 16a' at its all sides.
The side frame portion 16a' is largely square in shape as viewed from in front of the woofer, as can best be seen in Fig. 6. The side frame portion has in the center an opening 16c' of diameter substantially equal to that of the diaphragm 1c'. The side frame portion 16a' is provided with bearing portions 17' and 18' at opposite points in the sides thereof.
As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the side frame portion 16a' is also provided with an aperture 16d' at a mid point in the side panel that has the bearing portion 17' on the inside wall. A transparent acrylic resin plate 19' is fitted in the aperture 16d'. The acrylic plate 19' has an opening 19b' and a graduated area 19a' in it.
Each of the bearing portions 17' and 18' is fitted with a bearing element 20' or 21'. On the grille 16'is rotatably disposed a support member 22' through the bearing elements 20' and 21' in a manner as will be explained. That is, the support member 22' has at opposite ends thereof a pair of shoulder plates 22a' 22b' to each of which a main shaft 23' is affixed at an upper end portion thereof. The main shafts 23' are inserted into the bearing elements 20' and 21' respectively axially rotatably as indicated by chain line I in Fig. 9A.
The support member 22' has a cross-section of largely L-shape, as is shown in Fig. 9B, with a vertical section 22a' that is increasingly wider toward the middle portion thereof and tapering toward the opposite ends thereof. The vertical portion 22a' is formed with a supporting hole 24' of large diameter in the middle portion. In this supporting hole 24' is fitted a squawker 7'. A pair of supporting holes 26' and 27' of small diameter are formed in the vertical portion 22a' at both end portions. In each of the supporting holes 25' and 26' is supported a tweeter 8'.
In this manner, the squawker 7' and tweeters 8' are pivotably mounted on the support member 22' within a space enclosed by the grille 16' and the diaphragm 1c'. The angle adjustment mechanism for varying the angle of the vertical axis of these speaker units is constructed as follows.
As is minutely depicted in Figs. 10 through 12, which are exploded views of an associated part, the support member 22' has, on a lower end of one of the shoulder plates 22c', situated adjacent to the opening 16d', an engagement pin 27' whose axis I is parallel to the axis 1 of rotation of the support member.
The side frame portion 16' has on the inside surface a pair of bearing sleeves 28' and 29' on opposite ends of the opening 19b'. Each of the bearing sleeves 28' and 29' is equipped with a bearing element 30' or 31'. Between the bearing elements is rotatably fitted a threaded actuator shaft 32'. The threaded actuator shaft 32' extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to axis I of rotation of the support member 22'. An control member 33' is screw-threaded by the threaded actuator shaft 32' for linear movement on it. When the threaded actuator shaft 32' is rotated, the control member 33' moves in a direction perpendicular to axis I of rotation of the support member. The control member 33' has on its front surface facing the engagement pin 27' an engagement slit 33a that extends perpendicular to the axis I of rotation of the support member and to the axis of the threaded actuator shaft 32'. In the engagement slit 33a' is slidably engaged the engagement pin 27'. With this arrangement, the linear movement of the control member 33' is converted to a swing motion of the support member 22'.
When the control member 33' is being actuated by rotation of the threaded actuator shaft 32', the control member may rotate itself about the axis of the threaded actuator shaft 32' without moving along it. Provision should be made, therefore, to prevent the control member 33' from rotation. For example, the control member 33' may be formed on the surface facing the acrylic resin plate 19' with a guide groove 33b'. The side frame 16a is formed on the inside surface a matched guide rail (not shown) for receiving the guide groove 33b'. As an alternative means, the control member may have its rear end extended further for sliding contact with the acrylic resin plate 19'.
Also, the control member 33' has an indicator line 34' on the rear surface. The indicator line 34' is super-imposed on the graduated area 19a' on the acrylic resin plate 19' for reading from the outside.
A knob 35' is fixedly mounted on the threaded actuator shaft 32' adjacent to the control member 33'. The knob 35' protrudes partly out of the grille 16 through the opening 19b' in the acrylic resin plate 19'. The knob 35' is serrated on the circumference for easy manipulation.
Operation of the preferred embodiment of which the construction has been described will be explained.
When the threaded actuator shaft 32' is rotated in one direction through the knob 35', the control member 33' is moved along the threaded actuator shaft 32' in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 5 or 10. This movement of the control member 33 causes the support member 22' to rotate about the axis of rotation I in the direction indicated by the arrow C in the same drawing. When the threaded actuator shaft 32' is rotated in the opposite direction, the control member 33' is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow B in the drawing. In this case, the control member 33' causes the support member 22' to rotate about the axis I in the direction indicated by the arrow D. The rotation of the support member affects the angle of installation of the squawker 7' and the tweeters 8', and is read on the graduated area 19a', on which the indicator line 34' gives reading of what angle the speaker units takes. Graduation helps to ensure an accurate control of the speaker units angle for better sound propagation. The control member 33' not only functions to control the angle of the speakers but also serves to hold the support member 22' in locked position during performance, and prevent the speakers from accidental rotation due to impact or vibration.
In this particular embodiment, as has been stated above, the support member 22' has on one of the shoulder plates 22a' the engagement pin 27' for engagement into an engagement slit 33a' formed on the control member 33' for the purpose of converting the linear movement of the control member 33' into a rotational motion of the support member 22'. However, it should be understood that this illustration is not intended to limit the present invention to such a method of motional conversion, and that various versions would be derived. For example, the control member 33' may be provided with an arm for contact with the support member 22' in such a manner that enables the arm to cause the support member 22' to swing back and forth according as the control member 33' is actuated.
Furthermore, the angle adjustment mechanism of this embodiment can also be used for controlling the sound transmission direction from the squawker or the tweeter(s) in a compound speaker system.
As has been stated, the present invention is directed to the compound speaker arrangement in which the squawker unit is rotatable between a raised and a lowered position in the middle of the woofer magnetic circuit, with the tweeter mounted next to it. It is so designed that, when the squawker is raised, the tweeter situates itself at a higher point than the squawker. This design has several advantages. For example, the highly directional high frequency range sound propagate from higher in space than the less highly directional mid-range sound. The driver can enjoy sound without loss of fidelity.

Claims

1. A compound speaker system comprising

low-pitched sound reproducing means (1) having a cone (1c) which has an upper rim extending in one plane and faces in a first direction,

magnetic circuit means (1a, 1d, 1e) which faces said cone (1c) at a center portion thereof,

high-pitched sound reproducing means (7, 8, 9) having a size-smaller than said low-pitched sound reproducing means (1), and

means for holding said high-pitched sound reproducing means (7, 8, 9) within said cone (1c) rotatably about an axis to permit it to take positions in which it faces in a second direction at an angle with said first direction to reproduce highly directional high-pitched sound outside said plane, characterized by

a mechanism for adjusting the angular position of said high-pitched sound reproducing means (7, 8, 9), which mechanism includes an arched lock plate (12) fixed to the high-pitched sound reproducing means (7, 8, 9) and having a plurality of recesses (12a) in its periphery, and a ball (14) mounted on said magnetic circuit means (1a, 1d, 1e) and biassed by a spring (13) into engagement with a respective one of said recesses (12a).

2. The speaker system of claim 1, wherein said ball (14) is mounted in a member (5) magnetized by said magnetic circuit means (1a, 1d, 1e) and arranged to be contacted by a magnetic member (7b) of said high-pitched sound reproducing means (7, 8, 9) in an extreme position of the latter.

3. A compound speaker system comprising

low-pitched sound reproducing means (1') having a cone (1c') which has an upper rim extending in one plane and faces in a first direction,

magnetic circuit means, which faces said cone (1c') at a center portion thereof,

high-pitched sound reproducing means (7', 8') having a size smaller than said low-pitched sound reproducing means (1'), and

means (16', 22') for holding said high-pitched sound reproducing means (7', 8') within said cone (1c') rotatably about an axis to permit it to take positions in which it faces in a second direction at an angle with said first direction to reproduce highly directional high-pitched sound outside said plane, characterized by

a mechanism for adjusting the angular position of said high-pitched sound reproducing means (7', 8'), which mechanism includes cam actuator means (32', 35') associated with said holding means (16', 22'), cam means (33') actuated by said cam actuator means (32', 35') to move in a direction perpendicular to said axis, and cam follower means (27') attached to said holding means (22').

4. The speaker system of claim 3, wherein said holding means (16', 22') includes a support member (22') to support said high-pitched sound reproducing means (7', 8') and a cover (16') for said low-pitched sound reproducing means (1'), said cover having a side frame portion (16a') for supporting said actuator means (32', 35') and said cam means (33') thereon and for rotatably receiving said support member (22').

5. The speaker system of claim 4, wherein said side frame portion (16a') has a window (19b') to permit manipulation of said cam actuator means (32', 35') from outside the cover (16').

6. The speaker system of claim 5, wherein said actuator means includes a knob (35') positioned for rotation within the cover (16') and protruding partly through said window (19b'), and a threaded actuator shaft (32') extending in a direction perpendicular to said axis, said cam means including a control member (33') adapted to travel on said threaded actuator shaft (32') and having an elongated slit (33a'), said cam follower means including a pin (27') extending from said support member (22') into engagement with said slit (33a').

7. The speaker system of claim 6, wherein said side frame portion (16a') has an indicator window formed of a transparent acrylic resin plate (19') and having a graduated area (19a') therein, said control member (33') having an indicator line (34') visible through said graduated area (19a') from outside the cover (16').

8. The speaker system of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein said high-pitched sound reproducing means includes a squawker (7, 7') and/or a tweeter (8, 8') and/or a super tweeter (9).